SA receives boost in fight against Aids

South Africa has received a major boost to fight Aids, TB and malaria, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said on Sunday.

“The Global Fund has approved a total of up to $302-million funding for South Africa over a period of five years for the tenth round of grants for prevention, treatment and care of Aids and TB,” he said.

Motsoaledi said the grant was the highest amount received from the Global Fund.

“We welcome the grant, particularly the contribution to Aids treatment. It will allow us to put more people early on treatment and it will improve health outcomes as well as avert Aids-related deaths,” Motsoaledi said.

“A total of $196-million was for Aids treatments, $33-million for medical male circumcision, and a significant amount of $10-million for strengthening health systems and community response in respect of HIV/Aids and TB, and $8-million for direct support of the TB programmes.”

“This is a major addition to our R4,28-billion tender for procurement of antiretroviral drugs to support the implementation of HIV and Aids treatment in South Africa for the next two years, effective from January 1 2011 to December 31 2012.”—Sapa